Higdon's Career Day Pushes Football to Overtime Win at Indiana

Saturday, October 14

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Michigan

5-1 , 2-1

Indiana

3-3 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Indiana

Karan Higdon

Higdon's Career Day Pushes Football to Overtime Win at Indiana

10/14/2017 4:39:00 PM | Football

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By: Brad Rudner

» Karan Higdon ran for a career-high 200 yards and three touchdowns, including a 25-yarder on the first play of overtime.
» Indiana had a first-and-goal from the one-yard line in overtime, but the Michigan defense held, with Tyree Kinnel sealing the win with a fourth-down interception in the end zone.
» It was the program's 500th Big Ten win. The Wolverines have now won 22 consecutive meetings with Indiana.

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: #17 Michigan 27, Indiana 20 (OT)
Records: U-M (5-1, 2-1 B1G), IU (3-3, 0-3 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 21 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7:30 p.m. (TV: ABC)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Karan Higdon ran for a career-best 200 yards and three touchdowns -- including a 25-yarder on the first play of overtime -- to propel the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan football team to a 27-20 win over Indiana on Saturday (Oct. 14) inside Memorial Stadium. It was the program's 500th Big Ten victory.

The Wolverines held a 10-point lead with four minutes to play, but Indiana mounted a furious comeback to force overtime on a 46-yard field goal from Griffin Oakes as time expired. Higdon needed only one play to break the deadlock, when he took a handoff that looked to be going nowhere and turned it into a 25-yard touchdown.

Then the Michigan defense took over. Indiana made it all the way to the one-yard line and had a first-and-goal, but the Wolverines slammed the door on three consecutive plays, pushing the Hoosiers back to the four-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-goal and needing a touchdown to stay alive, Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey was flushed out of the pocket and threw into the end zone, but right into the arms of Tyree Kinnel, who clinched the win with the interception.

Devin Bush led the team with eight tackles, while Rashan Gary had seven, including two-and-a-half tackles-for-loss. As a whole, the unit allowed only 80 rushing yards -- 120 less than Higdon had by himself -- and limited Indiana to just 3.9 yards per play. Michigan also forced two turnovers and had seven tackles for loss.

After opening the game with a defensive stop, the offense took the field and delivered a drive reminiscent of the one to open last week's game against Michigan State. With six runs and six passes on a drive that spanned more than six minutes, the Wolverines got into the red zone and converted the trip into points via a 40-yard field goal from Quinn Nordin.

Indiana drove the field on the next possession -- aided by a few defensive penalties -- but wound up with nothing after Maurice Hurst blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt from Oakes. Lavert Hill picked up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards, switching the field and giving the offense great field position. That drive also ended in points, as Nordin was good from 38 yards to make it 6-0 one play into the second quarter.

The Wolverines added to the lead on the next drive, fueled by quarterback John O'Korn. Facing a third-and-seven in their own territory, O'Korn escaped two would-be sacks before finding Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 17-yard reception. He drew a 15-yard late hit penalty on the next play off a scramble. Two plays later, Higdon went untouched for a 12-yard touchdown run to make the score 13-0.

Indiana got on the board with a 32-yard field goal from Oakes to close the first half with Michigan leading 13-3.

The Hoosiers scored on their first drive of the second half with an eight-yard touchdown run from Morgan Ellison to get them within three points. That would be the only scoring of the third quarter, as the two teams struggled to move the ball.

Michigan's offense broke through in the fourth quarter, bruising Indiana with five consecutive running plays. Higdon capped the drive, bursting through the line -- again untouched -- for a 59-yard touchdown run to put Michigan back up by two scores.

Indiana didn't go away, getting back to within three on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Ramsey to Whop Philyor.

With 3:27 left and no timeouts, Indiana attempted an onside kick. The ball bounced over the head of Peoples-Jones and into the hands of Indiana's Simmie Cobbs, but he was ruled to not have completed the motion of possessing the ball in-bounds, giving the ball to Michigan. The Wolverines went three-and-out to kill some clock, but couldn't pick up the game-clinching first down, punting to Indiana with 1:05 remaining. That left the Hoosiers enough time to tie, setting the stage for overtime.

Michigan concludes its two-game road trip next Saturday (Oct. 21) with a visit to Penn State. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. in State College, Pennsylvania, and will be televised on ABC.